Vintage: Streets of St. Louis, Missouri (1900s)

During the decades after the Civil War, St. Louis grew to become the nation’s fourth largest city, after New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. It also experienced rapid infrastructure and transportation development and the growth of heavy industry. The period culminated with the 1904 World’s Fair and 1904 Summer Olympics, which were held concurrently in St. Louis.

During the 1880s, the city grew in population by 29 percent, from 350,518 to 451,770, making it the country’s fourth largest city; it also ranked fourth as measured by value of its manufactured products, and more than 6,148 factories existed in 1890. However, during the 1890s, manufacturing growth slowed dramatically.[138] The Panic of 1893 and subsequent depression and the overproduction of grain made St. Louis mills considerably less productive and valuable. Flour milling was halved and most other industries suffered similar declines.

The introduction of the railroad in St. Louis helped spread the fortune and initialize much of this industrial success. With the completion of the Municipal Railroad System, St. Louis’ manufacturers could get their products to consumers on the East Coast much faster than before.

A boy on stilts stands in front of the produce stands in front of the F.J. Voepel Market, 1906

Construction of North Taylor Avenue at the intersection of Florissant Avenue, 1906

Delmar Boulevard from Kingshighway, 1914

Gravois Road looking east at River des Peres, 1914

Group of men standing in front of the Globe Shaving Parlor at 1015 Carr Street, ca. 1910